stuff to know about the Thompson
1. Yes, the river is open for fall 2006 but so far the numbers look low.
2. The PetroCanada gas station and eatery are now closed so make sure you gas up before you arrive.
3. Vicky's (River's Edge Restaurant) on Hwy 1 just downstream of the Graveyard Pool is the best in town but it is also closed as the owners had to leave suddenly due to a family emergency. Don't know if or when it will open again this season.
4. Shaw Springs Restaurant (between Spences Bridge and Lytton) is open 7 am-noonish and serves a good breakfast.
5. Rumours Restaurant in Spences Bridge is open but you'll need to check the hours. Have had breakfast and dinner there within the last few months and the food was good.
6. The Log Cabin Pub has good beer and also serves pizza, hot dogs, etc. Most of the steelheaders stop in for a pint in the evening so it is a good place to find out if you are the only angler who didn't catch a fish today.
Once you're there you'll notice where all the fly guys are--fish there as those are the runs that fish the fly well. Art Lingren's
Thompson River Journal published by Amato is a good resource.
Fishing the Thompson is like any other steelhead river, except that the river is huge, the wading dangerous and the steelhead are few and far between--it is not uncommon to go a week or more without a hookup.